By Charles Lefebvre

Budget 2019

Barnes says budget will help get Alberta’s spending under control

Oct 24, 2019 | 5:23 PM

EDMONTON, AB — Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes says the 2019 budget is necessary to get Alberta’s finances under control.

Speaking over the phone from Edmonton hours after the budget was tabled, Barnes says the budget included measures to help control spending, while at the same time getting Albertans back to work.

“This is about getting Alberta families, Alberta communities back to work, back to where Alberta can be the leader in Canada,” Barnes said. “And we need cooperation from our Canadian partners for the pipeline. We also are finally putting our fiscal house in order.”

Barnes says he was most happy his party’s commitment to balance Alberta’s budget in four years remained in place.

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He adds Albertans have seen challenges in recent years, due to a lack of market access for goods and low natural gas prices, and they do not need any further challenges.

“We do not need to add hardship to Albertans and Medicine Hat families by huge government debt and huge government deficits,” he said. “So I think this budget goes a long way to bring down the total debt, bring down government spending more in line with other provinces so that Alberta families have a chance to prosper.”

Barnes says the budget will require Albertans to be innovative to meet future challenges.

“If you’re involved in the public service, health, education, supporting children or families let’s look for more value per dollar, let’s look for more respect for tax dollars, and let’s continue to provide very, very good services,” he said. “Basically it’s 2.8 per cent less over four years. So that’s one per cent a year. And Albertans will find that easily.”